Doctor of philosophy
(University of South Australia 2000). The research was a qualitative study of caregivers’ behaviour management practices with young children.

Master of gifted education
(Flinders University 1999).

Graduate diploma in education
(University of Adelaide 1987). This qualified me as a secondary teacher.

Master of arts (hons.)
in Psychology (University of Canterbury 1981).

Certificate in alcohol counselling
(University of Canterbury 1981). This comprised 750 hours of training and clinical placements in various community and inpatient counselling services for individuals with addictions to alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs and/or gambling, or with eating disorders. As a requirement of the Certificate, the clinical element was supplemented with research into addictions. To that end, my thesis examined the effectiveness of an alcohol education program for drivers with multiple drink-driving convictions.

Bachelor of arts (University of Canterbury 1980)
with a double major in Education and Psychology. The combination of majors in this degree gave me a comprehensive grounding in developmental and educational psychology which has underpinned all my subsequent professional work.

Bachelor of international studies
(Flinders University 2010).

From 1982 to 1984 I completed a family therapy training course under the direction of Malcolm Robinson and Dr Kerry Callaghan. This entailed 60 half-day training sessions on the theory of family therapy and supervised counselling practice. This course was subsequently accredited at graduate level and offered in conjunction with the University of South Australia.

Jan 2002 – present Early Childhood Consultant. This role involves coaching early childhood educators and teachers in schools about how to meet the needs of all children and particularly those with additional developmental, behavioural or emotional needs. It involves delivering professional development sessions on a range of topics relevant to young children.

Aug 2021 – Jan 2023 Senior lecturer, Counselling, Australian College of Applied Professions. 

Feb 2016-Jan 2017 Course coordinator and senior lecturer, Bachelor and Masters of Counselling, Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.

May 2002–2020 Consultant psychologist. The majority of my work in this role is delivering professional development and conference presentations locally, interstate and internationally. I continue in private practice as a child psychologist, and the remainder of my time is spent writing.

1986 – 2020 Private psychology practice. Since 1986 to my retirement in 2020, I maintained a part-time private child psychology practice, focusing on children and adolescents with developmental, emotional or behavioural difficulties, consulting also with their parents, educators and other professionals about these.

1989 – May 2002 Senior lecturer and, previously, lecturer, School of Education, and School of Special Education and Disability Studies, Flinders University. In this role I taught at both under-graduate and post-graduate levels..

1986 – 1989  Senior Clinical Psychologist, Children’s Services Office of the Department for Education, South Australia. This work involved consultation with parents and teachers or educators in preschools and child care centres over children’s atypical development and emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. It also comprised designing policy about the delivery of psychological services within the agency as a whole, and overseeing the practice of the five psychologists in the other regions across the state.

1984 – 1986 Clinical Psychologist, Intellectual Disability Services Council. In this position, I consulted with parents and teachers about their educational and behavioural concerns for children and young people (aged birth to 20) with developmental delays and intellectual or multiple disabilities. I conducted assessments of the children’s developmental skills, advised teachers and parents on interventions to promote the children’s social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing and to meet their learning needs, and conducted counselling sessions for adolescents and adults with disabilities.

1981 – 1984 Psychologist, Crippled Children’s Association. In this position, I worked with children in the preschool and junior primary sections of the Regency Park School for children with physical disabilities. Primarily, I assessed their development, carried out remedial sessions for learning disabilities, and supported their families. 

Books

Porter, L. (2024). Counselling young people: A handbook for trainees and practitioners. Routledge.

(2016). Emotional intelligence: How emotional literacy can enrich your life. Small Poppies International.

(2016, 2008, 2003, 1999). Young children’s behaviour: Guidance approaches for early childhood educators (4th ed.). Allen and Unwin.  This book has been translated into Romanian, and is now published by Routledge.

(2015). Parental guidance recommended: How to raise emotionally healthy children. Small Poppies International. 

Porter, L., Winter-Sellery, K. & Jamieson, C.N. (2015, 2008). The guidance approach to parenting: Workbook (2nd ed.). Small Poppies International.

Porter, L. (2015, 2008). The guidance approach for practitioners: Workbook (2nd ed.). Small Poppies International.

(2014). A comprehensive guide to classroom management: Facilitating engagement and learning in schools. Routledge.

(2010). A guidance approach to discipline: Theoretical foundations. Small Poppies International.

Porter, L., Winter-Sellery, K. & Jamieson, C.N. (2008). Teaching parents a guidance approach: A manual for group leaders. Small Poppies International.

Porter, L. (2008). Teacher-parent collaboration: Early childhood to adolescence. ACER.

(2007, 2000, 1996). Student behaviour: Theory and practice for teachers (3rd ed.). Allen and Unwin. This text was also published under the title Behaviour in schools. Open University Press.

(2006, 2001, 1997, 1994). Children are people too: A parent’s guide to young children’s behaviour. (4th ed.).  East Street Publications/ Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.

(2005, 1999). Gifted young children: A guide for teachers and parents. (2nd ed.) Sydney: Allen and Unwin / Open University Press. This book was also translated into Korean.

(Ed.) (2002). Educating young children with additional needs. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. This text is also published under the title Educating young children with special needs. London: Paul Chapman.

Porter, L. & McKenzie, S. (2000). Professional collaboration with parents of children with disabilities. Whurr / Wiley.

Porter, L. (2016). Guiding children’s behaviour. In Ebbeck, M., & Waniganayake, M. (Eds.) Play in early childhood education: Learning in diverse contexts (2nd ed., pp. 161-182). Oxford University Press.

(2012). Applied behaviour analysis: Its applications and limitations. In T. Cole, H. Daniels, & J. Visser (Eds.) The Routledge international companion to emotional and behavioural difficulties (pp. 112-121). Routledge.

(2010, 2004). Giftedness in the early years. In R. Moltzen (Ed.) Gifted and talented: New Zealand perspectives (3rd ed.,  pp. 111-156).  Pearson Education.

(2003). A proposed model describing the realisation of gifted potential. In W. Vialle, & J. Geake (Eds.) The gifted enigma: A collection of articles (pp. 326-345). Hawker Brownlow.

(2003). Teaching considerate behaviour. In E. Dau (Ed.) Enhancing children’s development (pp. 184-208). Tertiary Press.

(2002). Fundamentals of early education; Collaborating with parents; Identification and assessment; Principles of program individualisation; Cognitive skills; Emotional and social needs; Guiding children’s behaviour. In L. Porter (Ed.) Educating young children with additional needs. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. This title was also published under the title Educating young children with special needs, Paul Chapman.

(1999). Discipline in early childhood. In L. Berk (Ed.) Landscapes of development: An anthology of readings (pp. 295-307; 522-524). Wadsworth.

Porter, L. (2005, 1997). Young gifted children: Meeting their needs. Early Childhood Australia.

Porter, L. (2016). Children’s behaviour: A guiding approach. Early Childhood Australia.

Porter, L. (in preparation.) A model of human needs: A refinement of Maslow.

(in preparation). Behaviourral guidance in early childhood.

(2004). Principles of guiding children’s behaviour. Rattler, 69, 11-14.

(2003). Valuing children. Australian Journal of Early Childhood 28 (4), 1-8.

(2003). Guiding children’s behaviour without using rewards or punishments. Every Child, 9 (2), 26-27.

(1998). Giftedness in young children. Every Child, 4 (2), 6-7.

(1998). Attention deficit disorder: Is it over diagnosed? Independent Education, 28 (1), 46-47.

(1997). A model describing the realisation of gifted potential. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 6 (2), 33-43.

(1997). Selected perspectives on ADD and ADHD. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 22 (4), 7-14